If Paul Simon can be considered the musical ambassador of 9/11, the same can be said of Trombone Shorty and the Katrina disaster. While no one in their right mind would ever want that distinction, it seems to be inherently human that we designate an artist to represent the collective loss and rebirth that comes from tragedy on such an immense scale. As such, Shorty represents hard. From his heartbreaking starring role on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’s Christmas episode back in 2006 to his recent appearances on New Orleans-set HBO show Treme, Shorty’s namesake instrument suits any mood, from traditional to something more along the lines of fusion. For the city-sponsored Blues B-Q, he brings with him his pop-accessible yet undeniably NOLA Orleans Avenue band. – Justin Strout